Verbal Abuse – Why Do They Act That Way?

For anyone who’s ever been involved with verbally abusive and manipulative people, at some point we ask ourselves:

Why Do They Act Like That?

Why does a cat stalk a mouse? Because it’s a predator. Even when well fed (as my cats have confirmed) it will still hunt.

The mouse won’t like it. If mice could analyse the situation, they’d probably wonder: “why me?”

The cat, of course, doesn’t care.

As Dr. George Simon, a psychotherapist with decades of experience dealing with narcissists and covertly-aggressive, explains it, the cat isn’t predatory through some kitten-hood trauma, some inner insecurity brought about by the presence of a little mouse.

It’s just doing what most cats do instinctively: hunt.

I used to believe the many excuses and justifications a family member threw my way:

a grade one teacher who supposedly didn’t like him (this was brought up more than once)

my father’s drinking

our poor, working-class upbringing

living somewhere they didn’t like (though having met their partner there, securing an excellent job in that town, living in one of the best climates in Canada)

We are meant to feel sorry for them and put up with whatever belligerence or cruelty said or done.

We are not allowed that excuse. Others’ experiences, whether identical or far worse, are minimized and tossed aside. If finally cornered and unable to deny that someone else has suffered more, you’ll hear rationalizations like: “It’s different for them/you, they/you can take it” – (but in the next breath they can very well accuse you of being “too sensitive”).

It’s deliberate crazy-making.

Are They Just Insecure?

From everything I’ve read, and experienced, I don’t believe so, at least not in the majority of cases. It’s another tactic we can too easily fall for: feeling sorry for all the “pain” the narcissist is going through.

Let’s face it. Don’t we all have pain? What about our own – at times abysmal – upbringings? Why do the rest of us try to overcome the emotional and psychic traumas from our past?

Manipulators learned how to get their way, no matter who they trample over, and they are responsible for how they act – no excuses allowed.

Just as we are responsible for protecting ourselves.

It goes without saying that we are influenced by authority figures in our lives, where and how we are brought up, things said and done to us.

As children we had no choice.

As adults, we do. We have free will.

A narcissist thinks they have the right to mistreat and hurt you, but you don’t have the right to react or stand up for yourself. They are allowed to criticize, voice all their opinions, be rude, cruel and insensitive, but how dare you point out their bad behaviors, or say anything back to them.

Their behaviors suddenly become all your fault and you are “crazy”, a “drama queen” and a “horrible” person for standing up for yourself and not accepting and tolerating their crap. They never blame themselves or see their own horrific behaviors. – source unknown

Are we supposed to just put up with everything that’s thrown our way? Can they blame everything and everyone else and absolve themselves of personal responsibility for their actions?

Of course not.

But that means facing ourselves in the mirror, digging up the reasons why we are triggered and feel incapable of standing up for ourselves or walking away from the abuse.

Then the hard work begins of getting through the other side.

(Some may say that those with severe narcissistic personality disorder have physical differences in their brain structure which causes them to act so callously. All the more reason to just stay the hell away. They cannot change.)

A Double Whammy

To make matters worse, others often won’t believe you when you finally muster up some courage to confide in someone.

A manipulator is skilled at turning on the charm and winning people over, initially at least, yet all the while scapegoating the real victim.

How many times have people said: “I don’t believe it. S/he is so nice.”

Narcissists/manipulators have been described as “street angels, home devils.”

No longer the lovable, purring cat wanting something from you (to be petted, fed) – they see a chance to hunt their prey (you) and right before your eyes morph into predator mode.

Make no mistake – manipulators are intelligent and clever. If they feel you start to pull away, they’ll play on your sympathies, try to convince you to be “understanding”.

If you’re codependent at all, you’ll feel guilty.

You’ll want to believe that they’ve “seen the light”. That they’ll change.

You’ll try to make sense of the senseless.

The Takeaway

We have to stop being naïve.

Narcissists expect us to feel guilty, to appease, to mold ourselves to their behavior. It’s what we’ve usually done, right?

They set the trap, you walk into it. You think (again) “if I only do this – or that – it’ll be okay. They’ll be happy. The sibling / friendship / intimate relationship will be repaired.”

No, it won’t.

Manipulators like themselves just the way they are. They see no need to change.

They’re about winning and one-upmanship – not relationships.

I know I’m repeating myself. It took me a long time to accept reality, despite it slapping me upside the head time and again.

‘Cause narcissists/manipulators/covert-aggressives are looking to feed off of others, get their next fix – you.

Now it’s our job to stop being the fix.

Therapy, inner child work, websites, seminars, books, podcasts – there are now many resources available specifically dealing with narcissists and manipulative people. It’s hard work getting through to the other side, the place where there is self-respect and inner peace and, if necessary, a “divorce” from the person verbally abusing you.

There’s no magic pill or quick fix. But in the end it is absolutely worth it. You are worth it.

2 thoughts on “Verbal Abuse – Why Do They Act That Way?”

Once again, you cut to the quick and have accurately concluded what is transpiring between predator and victim. And no matter the bravado of the narcissist, I do believe they are insecure, hence their need to always focus on themselves and continue to tell themselves how great they are – to drown out those other insecure voices inside – and to constantly show others how small they are. Keep up the very insightful writing.